Metropolis, written by Thea von Harbou in 1925, is a groundbreaking science fiction novel set in a futuristic dystopian city. Beneath gleaming towers where the elite live in luxury, masses of workers toil endlessly operating the vast machines that power the metropolis. When Freder, son of the city's ruler Joh Fredersen, witnesses the workers' suffering, he joins Maria, a compassionate advocate for peace between the classes. Meanwhile, the scientist Rotwang creates a robot modeled after Maria to manipulate the workers and incite destruction. The novel explores class conflict, technology's dehumanizing power, and the hope of unity between head, hands, and heart.
